Grant's Strategy of "Total War"
In Grade 8 US history, students learn about Ulysses S. Grant's strategy of total war during the Civil War. Appointed commander of all Union armies in 1864, Grant targeted not just Confederate soldiers but also the South's ability to wage war—destroying farms, railroads, and factories. This relentless strategy, combined with General Sherman's March to the Sea, broke the Confederacy's will to fight. This topic is covered in History Alive! The United States Through Industrialism, Chapter 7.
Key Concepts
In March 1864, President Lincoln put Ulysses S. Grant in command of all Union armies. Lincoln needed a general who would fight aggressively to finally end the war.
Grant introduced a new strategy of " total war ." This meant attacking the Confederacy's ability to fight, not just its soldiers. Union armies targeted the South's resources by destroying farms, railroads, and factories to cut off supplies and break civilian morale.
Common Questions
What was Grant's strategy of total war in the Civil War?
Total war meant attacking not just enemy soldiers but the entire enemy economy and infrastructure. Grant and Sherman destroyed Southern farms, railroads, and factories to eliminate the Confederacy's ability to keep fighting.
Who was Ulysses S. Grant and what was his role in the Civil War?
Ulysses S. Grant was appointed commander of all Union armies in 1864 by President Lincoln. He pursued an aggressive strategy that wore down Confederate forces through continuous battle and economic destruction.
What was Sherman's March to the Sea?
Sherman's March to the Sea was a military campaign in which Union General William Sherman led troops through Georgia, destroying everything of military value. It was a major application of the total war strategy.
Which textbook covers Grant's total war strategy in Grade 8?
History Alive! The United States Through Industrialism, Chapter 7: The Union Challenged, covers Grant's total war strategy and its role in ending the Civil War.
How did total war help the Union win the Civil War?
By destroying Southern infrastructure and supply lines, total war made it impossible for Confederate forces to be fed, equipped, or reinforced. This exhaustion of Confederate resources ultimately forced surrender.